Dispensing cabinet with articulating arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical dispensing devices in healthcare settings often lack adjustability, compromising user convenience and efficiency due to fixed computer terminal positions, which restricts task performance and minimizes space usage.
Innovation Solution
An articulating arm assembly provides the user interface with three degrees of translational freedom and one degree of rotational freedom, allowing the user interface to be positioned optimally relative to the cabinet, incorporating a first arm rotationally coupled with the cabinet and a second arm rotationally coupled with the user interface, enabling a wide range of motion while minimizing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the computer terminal is rigidly attached to the dispensing device, then the device structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the user interface cannot be adjusted relative to the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the rigid, fixed attachment of the computer terminal with an articulating arm assembly that provides multiple degrees of freedom. This allows the user interface to be dynamically adjusted to various positions and orientations while maintaining a stable connection to the dispensing device, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the user interface from the main dispensing device body by introducing an articulating arm assembly as an intermediate component. This segmentation allows the computer terminal to be independently positioned and adjusted without affecting the overall structure of the dispensing device, enabling adaptability while keeping the base device relatively simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the computer terminal is integrated within the dispensing device, then the device footprint is minimized, but the user interface cannot be repositioned for different tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating arm assembly provides dynamic repositioning capability, allowing the user interface to be moved to various locations around the dispensing device. This dynamic positioning system enables the interface to be optimally positioned for different tasks such as patient care, documentation, or inventory management without permanently increasing the device's static footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional space by allowing the user interface to be positioned in multiple spatial dimensions through the articulating arm. Instead of expanding the device footprint in two dimensions, the solution moves the interface into the third dimension, enabling repositioning above, beside, or at various angles to the main device body.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the dispensing device is designed for multiple tasks, then versatility is improved, but the device size increases to accommodate all functions
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating arm assembly serves multiple functions: it positions the user interface for different tasks, provides cable management, and allows the interface to be positioned at optimal heights and angles for various activities. This single multi-functional component enables task flexibility without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby avoiding device size increase.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus related to a dispensing device having an adjustable user interface. According to one embodiment, a dispensing device may include a cabinet having one or more compartments for dispensing health care supplies to one or more patients. The dispensing device may also include a control system that provides various operational functions related to dispensing the health care supplies. A user interface may be communicatively coupled with the control system and may be configured to receive input from a user and provide output to the user. An articulating arm assembly may couple the user interface with the cabinet to provide the user interface with one or more translational degrees of freedom and one or more rotational degrees of freedom relative to the cabinet.